Basketball brawl puts Aggies in national spotlight

LAS CRUCES - In recent days, New Mexico State's basketball program has made national headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Aggie players were involved in a postgame melee with fans after a 66-61 overtime loss at Utah Valley on Thursday that became a highlight of sports media shows throughout the 24-hourcollege sports news cycle on Friday.

The fallout involved the two-game suspension of junior guard K.C. Ross-Miller by New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies, while senior forward Renaldo Dixon was suspended one game by the WAC.

Advertisement

"We care about our brand, we talk to athletes about our brand," said NMSU Athletics Director McKinley Boston on Friday. "We have social misconduct policy. Student athletes have to commit 15 hours of community service. Those things are in place because we are concerned about helping them grow. ... At the same time we want them to understand that they represent a very significant brand in our community."

The story quickly spread on social media, national news outlets and was the lead item on various wire services. Videos released by Utah Valley showed Aggie players Daniel Mullings, DK Eldridge and Dixon involved in the melee.

"We will thoroughly review that game management," WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said when reached by the Sun-News. "It's a concern everywhere where there is fan involvement. It's not limited to the WAC but we need to address it the best we can."

Now that the video has been reviewed by WAC and NMSU officials, the school faces a public relations scenario with possible lasting implications, while the basketball team returns to action Saturday at Bakersfield down two players.

"You look at incidents that have occurred in the past," said former NMSU student and Las Cruces resident Lou Hendren. "We have such a challenge here. It's a wake up call to realize how important this university is perceived by its student athletes behaviors. It's on every one of the talk radio programs. It's not the publicity that this community needs. I feel sad personally as a fan."

Some national critics of the NCAA allowing fans onto the court immediately following a game now have an Exhibit A for what can happen when fans and players are in close proximity after an emotional contest.

Ross-Miller became part of such a scenario when he fired the basketball at Utah Valley guard Holton Hunsaker from close range after the final horn. Simultaneously, UVU students rushed the court near the incident and players, students and coaches had to be separated near mid-court.

Menzies said following the game that NMSU junior guard Daniel Mullings said he was struck by fans. Various videos from the game also showed at least one Aggie player - Dixon - throwing a punch in the middle of the melee directed at a UVU fan.

"I know better to let my opponents and emotions get the best of me and I regret doing what I did," Ross-Miller said in a statement released by the university. "Not only because it was stupid and selfish, but because of the situation that I have created for my team, coaches and the university."

But after Ross-Miller's confrontation, the situation could have ended quickly if students were not allowed on the court.

"I think it happened fast, but there were 5,000 people in the arena and as I understand it, there were two police," Boston said. "I'm not going to criticize how someone else does game management, but a reasonable person would ask if that is enough security. (Hurd) will be looking at game management."

There is no NCAA rule forbidding fans and students on the court. The Southeastern Conference has a policy that can cost a school between $5,000 and $50,000 if fans step on the basketball court or football field.

"This is probably the second-worst case scenario, with my greatest concern being injuries to participants or bystanders," said Sporting News college basketball writer Mike DeCourcy. "People say that it's just kids being kids and having fun, but these are the consequences of you wanting to be on television."

Could the WAC implement a similar protocol?

Currently, fans celebrate with the winning team on the Orleans Arena floor at the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. The 2014 WAC Tournament is March 13-15 in Las Vegas, Nev.

Hurd said the issue will be addressed when league administrators meet in the week leading up to the WAC Tournament and then again at the WAC meetings in May.

"We have not reached that level of discussions," Boston said. "We have our Spring meeting in Kansas City in May. Without a doubt, that will be a topic that will be discussed."

DeCourcy said the NCAA is unlikely to get involved in terms of banning court storming all together, leaving the decision to individual leagues or institutions.

"My reaction was that it was bound to happen sooner or later," DeCourcy said. "It was sort of a relief that it happened at a Utah Valley. If it happens (at a bigger venue with more fans in attendance), there are more students on the floor, it would be much more dangerous."